Yes, he's racist!

The remarks made by Carl P. Paladino were incredibly racist. While some might argue that his remarks about President Obama were just disgusting and in poor taste, his statement concerning the First Lady is without a doubt racist. Comparing a person of color to a gorilla is racist. That is a fact. This is not the kind of person you want having influence over children.

Yes, his insults were all based on race.

Even as a black woman, I believe that racism is a word that is thrown out far too often in our world today. Every time someone acknowledges or points to a differences between one culture and another does not mean that the ideology involved was derogatory. In this case, though, Paladino's comments were just that. He spoke of the First Lady - specifically as a black woman - in relation to a cultural farce with an irrefutably negative connotation. His comments promoted his beliefs in the ideology of an uncivilized and unclean race.

Yes, Paladino's remarks were racist and sexist.

Paladino stated that the First Lady belonged in Zimbabwe in a cave with a gorilla. These attacks are along the same lines of those used by racists for decades against African American women. He knew exactly what he was saying when he spoke and should be held accountable for his actions.

He is completely racist

How anyone can try and defend Carl P. Paladino's comments as anything other than racist is completely baffling to me. The idea of comparing people of African descent to apes is archaic and abhorrent. He should be stripped of any public office and title and made a spectacle of. It is unacceptable behaviour.